Overwhelmed: Gun cleaning kit for a novice woman with 1st firearm?

All you need to clean a pistol is a kit with a cleaning rod, a tip that looks like a big needle end, some clean rags and can of gun oil. And a used toothbrush.

On new guns - they come coated in 'cosmoline' - this is the same sticky nasty stuff you see coming out of telephone pole. You want to use common household alcohol to remove this - but - be sure to leave a very thin coat of oil on the gun surfaces.

To clean a gun - you make sure it is unloaded. Remove the magazine first. Pull the slide back twice and look in the chamber to make sure no bullets are in there. (you always pull back twice - this way if you accidentally did have a loaded mag, the first time it would load the gun - and the second time it would eject the unfired round and let you know you've made a mistake!)

Your basically clean everywhere a bullet has been or touched - until your rags and bore patches come out clean.

You very much want to buy only stainless guns!! You get a scratch on a stainless gun - you can rub it out with a green art eraser. You scratch a blue gun - you get to look at it the rest of your life and pray it does not rust. Stainless is the smart way to go!

Your manual will tell you how to clean it. And if it is used - you can download the manual from the manufacturers website.

Good Luck

A locking case is usually good enough, In fact, you don't have to go overboard with such a case. Even a simple briefcase would do the trick...so long as it has a combination lock.

As for gun cleaning kits, just go with simething simple from Walmart or Sports Authority. Be sure to get one with a 22 caliber cleaning rod, that way you can clean everything from a 22 upward, by simply changing the size of the bore bruch and/or the cleaning patch diameter.

all gun cleaning kits are simple, are you simple minded, all of the ones you mentioned will work but I would not recommend the bore snake, ear and eye protection is mandatory if you care about your safety and your eyes, and your hearing. I am not trying to be mean but you should at least know how to disassemble your own firearm, if it did not come with a manual you can write the manufacture for one.?( Ruger will send you for your model free of charge) stainless is not are dark blue but a shiny color(which I do not care for), if you have carpal tunnel than get yourself a Ruger Mark I,II,II Ruger's in my opinion are the most accurate and the most easy to disassemble and reassemble as a first time user of a pistol. semi-auto and very accurate, does your state require you to have it locked up? what good is it if you cannot access it readily by the way what does "HD" mean?,home defense I am guessing. for the 9 mm the Ruger SP 101 is a very good self defense revolver, double action,or single but remember if you do have to pull it out and have intentions of using it, make sure you can hit your target at three yards or less 9 feet if you do not understand yards " center mass" always. my sister would say double tap to the forehead (she is a police officer 17 years as is her husband retired 23 years) it is not about how many rounds that you fire but where they go, one should be all you need, and above all do not close your eyes when you pull the trigger.

Blued guns will be, well, dark blue in color and usually have a glossy finish. Stainless steel guns will look like polished steel. NOTE: Some stainless steel guns will have a matte, or dull, finish. This is usually by design.

There are quick-access gun safes available. Most gun stores should be able to help you find one.

Get some clear safety goggles to slip over the glasses. You can't be too careful.

I like Break Free CLP for cleaning firearms. It's what the armed forces use.

9mm Gun Cleaning Kit

First off, your bifocals might not be enough eye protection, depending on how impact resistant they are.

You might need a pair of safety glasses to go over them:

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?...

Also, I wear ear plugs AND muffs when shooting.

Hoppe's, Outer's, and Kleenbore are all established companies, and will do well.

Something like this will probably clean any caliber you'll have:

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/CLN958-1.html

If the case that came with it doesn't lock, you might be able to slip a padlock through the handle halves to lock it.

Get a kit for each one, a 22 kit for the 22 and a 9mm/38/357 kit for the 9mm

hoppes, kleen-bore, dewey, gunslick, it's like asking 'which is better, coke or pepsi'

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?...

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?...

yes, the 22 kit is for a 22 rifle, but it is the same thing it just comes with more rod pieces.

Get disposable 'squishy' ear plugs to use in conjunction with your 'over the ear' muffs. remember to roll the squishy ear plugs, insert them, and let them expand. This is called 'doubling up'

Also, if you hadn't already bought ear muffs I'd tell you to look for a pair that is 30 db not a 27, 28, or 29 db pair. 31 or 32 is even better!

Eye protection, bifocals are not enough unless they have shatter resistant lenses.

get this to wear OVER your bifocals

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?...

I suggest getting a 'Gunvault' locking box to keep out the unauthorized. Yes, a theif can run off with the whole box and use a prybar to break in to it later, but for all the rest it will keep your guns safe.

http://www.amazon.com/Gunvault-GV1000C-STD-Mini-Va...

you can get that for one gun or GV-2000 for two guns.

For handguns, get one suitable for .22 handguns, because ones made for centerfire handguns use a larger diameter rod (won't fit the smaller .22 bore). Hoppe's makes good ones. You can add 9mm brushes, mops, & jags to fit the .22 rod. I'd use a dry lube (graphite) on the slide rails, and light spray (Break-free...do NOT use WD-40...it'll turn to glue) on the innards. For ear protection, get muffs. Plugs don't sufficiently protect your hearing. I wear glasses, too...and stuff will *still* get in your eyes sometimes. Cases aren't that expensive; new guns rarely come with one, anyway (just a box). Get a lockable one if you feel the need, but a locked- up handgun is useless if you need it in a hurry.

all you need is a good case, with a padlock, more eye protection then glasses.

a .22 is a very easy and simple gun to use i would recommend it. they are also very easy to clean and dont jam if treated with care. 9 mm is a very common gun and is good for self defense but much more expensive than the .22

i would get the .22

Long ago I was in the military. Personally I do not like semi-automatic pistols. For civilian use I think you are much better off using revolvers. Revolvers are naturally safer. You know just by looking at it whether it is loaded or not. There's no surprises. No safety lever is necessary.......With a automatic pistol,

if you are suddenly in a dangerous situation, you may be so excited that you forget to switch the safely lever to the firing position, I'm sure there are policemen who've been killed because of that second of forgetfulness when the adrenalin is flowing.. ,,With a loaded revolver, all you do is fire when ready, no safety lever to mess with. ,,,As a civilian, you do not need a automatic because normally you would be using a weapon at close range, for self-defense. . So a revolver is best in every way. For target practice

accuracy you may want a single-action revolver, maybe even a bunt line ( that's a revolver with a extra long barrel, enabling it to shoot further with more accuracy ). For a self defense revolver, you may want

a snubby .38 special, or a longer barreled .38 special ( it's up to you ).......If your purpose is self-defense

you need to consider a bullet will go through walls and travel some distance, therefore you do not want

a gun that is so powerful that everyone in the neighborhood is in danger of a bullet striking them.

I'll cut it short here. You can get opinions from others at the gun shop or firing range...........Automatics can be dangerous. I've seen many news items of people shooting themselves or someone else accidentally, and sometimes removing the magazine without realizing there is a round still in the chamber..Then there's that safety lever to mess with too.